How to Continue Your Education in Retirement

If you are already retired, you may think you’re too old to continue your education. The expense of education, going to campus and attending classes with a whole lot of young people can put you off. There are many benefits of continuing your education in retirement – it can improve your mental health, keep your brain sharp and help you to expand your social network. Fortunately, there are ways to continue your education in retirement. 

Massive open online courses

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are available to anyone with a computer and internet connection. They can be an excellent option if you are a less mobile senior citizen, as you can participate from the comfort of your home. You will watch video lectures, receive reading material and do assignments and tests. Online forums give you the opportunity to interact online with other students. 

Coursera and EDx are two of the most popular MOOCs, and they offer over 1,000 free online courses. Most of the courses last for six to eight weeks. You won’t earn college credits, but you can pay for a certificate of completion. 

Essay writing help

As an older student doing a degree in retirement, you may have a learning curve. You will have to develop research skills and learn different publication styles to write assignments. It can help you to reach out for assignment help online on Ca.EduBirdie. The writers have the right academic education background and rich experience. They will produce quality assignments within the deadline you set. You can learn a great deal from good examples of academic essays done by professional writers.

Lifelong Learning Institutes

When you’re retired, you have to live on a fixed income and are likely to want to avoid large tuition bills. Today there are affordable programs designed specifically for retired individuals. 

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes provide courses aimed at adults 50 and over. A network of 122 colleges and university programs across the U.S. provides non-credit, non-graded courses in everything from memoir writing to fly fishing. The programs offer scholarships for those who find the tuition too expensive. Taking classes can help you to grow your social circle and find a new purpose in retirement. 

Free college after 50

If you never had the chance to pursue higher education in your youth, your retirement provides the perfect opportunity. There are a number of colleges that offer free tuition to those over 50s. Many of them will allow you to audit classes without having to do homework or take exams. Both in-person and online courses are available. 

The California State University system authorizes campuses to waive tuition for California citizens of 60 and older. Clemson University, a large public university in South Carolina, provides free classes for senior citizens. You can choose to audit a class or earn college credit. Other universities with similar programs include Ohio State, Pennsylvania State, Colorado State, and Georgia Institute of Technology. 

Community colleges

All state-supported community colleges allow residents 65 and older to take courses for credit tuition-free. Community colleges usually offer a range of course options and the social engagement of a formal course, but the fees are less expensive than university fees. 

New programs are specifically gearing programs for retired citizens. As a mature student, you have experience and the potential to make a significant contribution. Learning in retirement at a community college may be good for you, and your experience may just be of benefit to younger students in a class.

 Living on campus

Retirees who want to continue their education may even want to live on a college campus. Arizona State University in Tempe has added a dorm building to its campus for senior citizens. Individuals must be over 62 to sign up to live there, and it includes independent living apartments and healthcare units. Residents have access to all campus amenities. They pay a buy-in fee and a monthly fee to live there.

The importance of education cannot be underestimated, and keeping engaged in learning when you’re retired can be one of the best ways to enjoy it. One of the advantages is that you don’t have to choose a course of study for career reasons. You can opt to learn something you’ve always been interested instead. You could even dive into mental health with universities like UTS Online. You can choose to study philosophy, art, languages or anything else that you’re passionate about. More than the subject, it's about continued learning and growth even when retired. This is because learning is a non-ending process irrespective of the age of learners.

Conclusion

Time can weigh heavy on your hands as a retiree, and continuing your education can be life-changing. Active involvement in a learning community can provide enjoyment and enrichment to your life without costing a fortune. It can offer you an opportunity to challenge your brain, stay young, and widen your social circle. You can choose to attend classes in person or opt for the convenience of online learning if this suits you best.